Is sun damage from a California outdoor lifestyle reversible?

A San Diego beach crowd on July File photo courtesy of San Diego Lifeguards If you thought smoking drinking alcohol and poor sleep habits were prime skin-damaging culprits you wouldn t be wrong However sun is by far the biggest contributor to skin damage The warmth of the sun s rays may feel good on your skin but years of spending time outdoors or lounging in the sun inevitably take a toll According to the Skin Cancer Foundation the sun is responsible for approximately of external aging There are numerous skin care products and treatments available on the industry that promise not only to repair the skin but also to reverse sun damage But are these suggests too good to be true Is there truly a way to turn back the clock on sun-damaged skin What causes sun damage To fully grasp sun damage also referred to as photoaging you need to understand what causes it ultraviolet UV rays The sunlight that reaches the Earth has ultraviolet A UVA and ultraviolet B UVB rays UVA and UVB rays differ from each other in two solutions the length of their waves and how deeply they penetrate the layers of the skin UVA rays These sun rays penetrate deep into the skin and are known to cause premature aging and wrinkles They may also play a role in certain types of skin cancers Shorter-wavelength UVA rays can penetrate the skin s inner layers and are far more prevalent comprising about of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth s surface UVB rays The vast majority of UVB radiation is absorbed by the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin UVB rays may not penetrate the skin as deeply as UVA but they can cause essential damage to the top layers of the skin and are the primary cause of sunburns and bulk skin cancers What damage can UV rays cause When ultraviolet light hits unprotected skin it causes DNA changes at a cellular level that can lead to premature aging and skin cancer It can also lead to changes in the skin s texture and appearance by damaging epidermal cells resulting in pink scaly rough areas known as actinic keratoses Repeated sun exposure breaks down the mesh of collagen fibers and slows production of elastin resulting in fine lines and deeper wrinkles If there is sufficient sun damage skin can develop red or pigmented cancerous bumps So is it reversible or not After years of UV exposure you may be left with certain unwanted souvenirs Common signs of sun damage include fine lines and wrinkles dark spots visible fine blood vessels and rough uneven skin texture Sun damage is reversible to a few extent but you can t totally undo the changes to your skin However there are a scant products and treatments that may help improve sun-damaged skin Retinoids Topical retinoids can help improve the appearance of surface wrinkles fine lines and dark spots Tretinoin commonly known by its brand name Retin-A is a prescription-strength retinoid that help stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin The over-the-counter option is retinol which is available in various concentrations and formulations Both are derived from vitamin A and promote faster skin cell turnover Laser treatments There are several in-office laser treatments that can improve sun-damaged skin Photodynamic therapy PDT is a remedy that uses blue light exposure to activate a topical drug Though there may be chosen cosmetic benefits PDT is a restoration that targets precancerous skin cells and can help to reduce epidermal damage and treat precancerous lesions Chemical peels Chemical peels remove the outer layer of skin with a chemical approach The outer layer of skin is shed revealing a new layer underneath An in-office chemical peel healing can reduce dark spots diminish the appearance of wrinkles and improve discoloration and skin texture It s majority critical to note though that preventing sun damage is easier than reversing it The best way to protect your skin is to build sun protection habits into your daily routine as early in life as accomplishable My top recommendation is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of or higher daily Dr Curt Littler is a board-certified dermatologist with Sharp Rees-Stealy Physiological Group